He explores the concept of psychological projection in the human imaginations and mythologies of God from earliest times to the present. Projection he defines as: ''... a mechanism whereby what is emotionally unacceptable to the self is rejected (repressed) and then attributed (projected) onto others.''
While this may seem a strange idea to some, it will be familiar to all who work in the mental health area, and has been written about since identified and elucidated by Sigmund Freud. The known religions since the Greek gods are briefly described, but the body of the work is based on the Old Testament.
The emergence of ethical demands by God is first present with the murder of Abel. Then in Exodus, the nature of God changes and becomes more powerful and violent, which the author connects to the changing problems of the Jews, and the need to project their own violence, their ''shadow'' or dark side onto their God.
The Devil figure is an interesting development in this thesis. In this manner later books of the Old Testament are examined and he questions whether there is ''A Place for God'' in today's increasingly secular society. Kenneth Bragan ends with his personal and moving thoughts.
- Margaret Bannister is a retired Dunedin psychotherapist and science teacher.
